A NORTH-EAST woman who sold an elderly relative’s home and pocketed the cash is facing two years in prison unless she returns the money.

Heather Flynn, 51, of Harebell Meadows, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was ordered to repay £87,121 within 28 days by Newcastle Crown Court, last week.

Flynn admitted theft and obtaining property and services by deception at Durham Crown Court, last December, after her stepfather-in-law, William Hughes, 77, appointed her to look after his affairs in, May 2006.

The court heard Flynn bought Mr Hughes’ London home for £51,000 and later sold it for £170,000 netting £77,810 after the redemption of the mortgage and fees were paid.

Mr Hughes is not thought to have received any of the money and Flynn’s £250-amonth mortgage on the property was paid from Mr Hughes’ bank account, which was by then held as a joint account.

The activity on the account showed it was mostly used to support Flynn’s day-to-day living, while Mr Hughes, who has no children of his own, was at a care home in Newton Aycliffe.

Despite an undertaking to do so, Flynn failed to pay Mr Hughes’ care fees, since 2006, that amounted to arrears of £43,000 which were eventually paid by Durham County Council.

In January, Flynn was ordered to undertake 260 hours unpaid work and given a 45 week prison sentence, suspended for two years, when Durham Crown Court heard she would repay the money.

When she failed to do so, the North-East Regional Asset Recovery Team launched a confiscation investigation that concluded at Newcastle Crown Court, last week.

Speaking after the hearing, Superintendent Steve Waite, head of the asset recovery team, said: “The victim of these offences was an elderly vulnerable man who was no longer able to care for himself.

“The defendant used his assets for her own gain, leaving Mr Hughes owing huge debts to the care homes.

“The confiscation order including the compensation aspect which was handed out shows that the courts take these matters seriously and that those people who commit these types of crimes will be made to pay back their ill-gotten gains”

If Flynn fails to pay the money, the debt will remain upon her release from prison.